CVE-2005-1742 in WebLogic
Summary
by MITRE
BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express 8.1 SP2 and SP3 allows users with the Monitor security role to "shrink or reset JDBC connection pools."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2025
CVE-2005-1742 represents a security vulnerability in BEA WebLogic Server and WebLogic Express versions 8.1 SP2 and SP3 that exposes a critical privilege escalation risk through improper access controls. This vulnerability specifically affects users who possess the Monitor security role, granting them unauthorized capabilities to manipulate core database connection resources within the application server environment. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks that allow monitored users to perform administrative actions typically restricted to higher-privileged roles. This represents a classic case of inadequate least privilege enforcement where role-based access controls fail to properly restrict user capabilities to their designated security boundaries. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 related to valid accounts and privilege escalation through application-level attacks. The technical implementation of this flaw allows attackers to manipulate JDBC connection pools, potentially leading to resource exhaustion, service disruption, or even data integrity compromise through connection manipulation. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to shrink or reset connection pools, which can cause application downtime, resource starvation, or create conditions that facilitate further attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1742 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data exposure and system availability compromise. Attackers with the Monitor role can deliberately disrupt database connectivity for applications relying on these connection pools, effectively creating denial of service conditions that can impact business operations. The ability to reset connection pools may also allow attackers to force application servers to reconnect to databases with potentially different credentials or configurations, opening pathways for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. This vulnerability particularly impacts enterprise environments where WebLogic servers host critical business applications and where the Monitor role is often assigned to users who require monitoring capabilities but not administrative control. The attack vector leverages existing legitimate access through the Monitor role, making detection more challenging as the activity appears to be normal administrative behavior. Organizations using these older WebLogic versions face heightened risk due to the limited security controls available in these releases, which were not designed with modern threat landscapes in mind. The vulnerability demonstrates poor separation of duties in security design, where monitoring capabilities inadvertently provide access to critical system management functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1742 should focus on immediate access control hardening and long-term system updates. Organizations must implement strict role-based access control policies that prevent the Monitor role from accessing administrative functions related to connection pool management. This involves configuring detailed authorization rules within the WebLogic server to explicitly deny connection pool manipulation to users with the Monitor role, effectively creating a security boundary around administrative functions. The implementation should follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users can only perform actions necessary for their specific monitoring duties. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to newer WebLogic Server versions that address this vulnerability through improved access control mechanisms and enhanced security features. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous connection pool manipulation activities, particularly when performed by users with monitoring roles. Security audits should include verification of role assignments and access control configurations to prevent similar privilege escalation scenarios. The remediation process must also include comprehensive testing to ensure that access control restrictions do not inadvertently break legitimate monitoring functionality while effectively blocking unauthorized administrative actions. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify and address similar access control weaknesses across the enterprise application infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing additional logging and alerting mechanisms specifically for connection pool management activities to provide visibility into potential exploitation attempts.